Man pleads guilty to sex crime involving minor

Steven Ireland, right, pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition, admitting in open court to engaging in sexual contact with a minor under the age of 13. Ireland's defense attorney, John Klaehn, is at left.(Photo: Jon Stinchcomb/News Herald)Buy Photo

PORT CLINTON - A local man admitted in open court on Thursday to engaging in sexual contact with a minor under the age of 13.

Steven Ireland, 24, of Port Clinton, pleaded guilty to gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony, during a hearing in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court.

According to reports from the Port Clinton Police Department, Ireland engaged in sexual activity with two minor victims on three occasions between 2011 and 2015.

In July 2016, Ireland was originally indicted by an Ottawa County grand jury on two additional counts of unlawful sexual contact with a minor, fourth-degree felonies, which were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.